Wednesday, 5 September 2018

Awards for Young Musicians celebrates 20 years

The charity Awards for Young Musicians (AYM) has for the last 20 years helped exceptional young people who need financial and other forms of support to progress their musical talent. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, AYM is releasing 20 short films following the stories of young people from low-income families, whose lives have been transformed by access to music education.

One of the young artists featured in the series is AYM’s youngest ever patron Jess Gillam, who became the first saxophonist to reach the final of the BBC Young Musician Competition in 2016. Also appearing in their own films are clarinettist Julian Bliss, who, alongside his performing career has designed affordable, quality clarinets for the next generation; violinist Jennifer Pike, who won the BBC Young Musician Competition at the age of 12 and now enjoys a career as one of today’s most successful young violinists; conductor Duncan Ward, who was offered a position with the Berlin Philharmonic by AYM Patron Sir Simon Rattle; Zara Hudson-Kozdoj, whose journey from humble beginnings to Chineke orchestra cellist shows how music can enable social mobility; and Shane Underwood, who is now serving his country as a member of the Royal Air Force Band.

The films will be published on the AYM website from late September onwards. The charity will also hold a fundraising event at Wilton’s Music Hall in London on 29 October 2018. Young people from AYM’s respective programmes will share the stage with Alumni and Patrons for a performance that celebrates the charity’s 20-year history.

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